Kate Motaung

In looking at how to manage anger, it is helpful to better understand the three primary emotions. Psychologists normally agree that we all experience three basic emotions: love, anger, and fear. It is helpful to compare these to the three primary colors of red, yellow, and blue. Every color, shade, and hue we see is one of these three primary colors or some combination of them. In the same way, every feeling we experience in life is one of

Attachment-Based Therapy (ABT) is a form of psychotherapy that aims to address the issues people face as a result of their attachment styles. It is drawn from the influential work of British Psychologist, Psychiatrist, and Psychoanalyst John Bowlby’s attachment theory. We're only as needy as our unmet needs. – John Bowlby Attachment theory aims at explaining and predicting relational behaviors that people exhibit as a result of first relational encounters with caregivers. Bowlby argues that the closer and more

There are very few people in the world, if any, who are happy being disliked by other people. We are deeply social beings, and being disliked, whether in reality, or in our own minds, feels like forced isolation from others; who wants that? We all engage in people-pleasing at times. Relationships with other people are a key part of what makes our lives feel like they’re flourishing. That makes sense, because at the heart of the universe is love.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression, also called seasonal depression or major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns. It affects 5% of the adult population, most noticeably between January and February, and is more prominent in women than in men. It commonly begins between the ages 18-30. There are rarer cases of seasonal depression occurring in summer, sometimes called “summertime sadness.” Those who live in the northern hemisphere, where there are fewer daylight hours during the winter

Anger is one of many emotions that can and will be felt and experienced throughout life. Anger is what is called a primary emotion. A primary emotion is an emotion that is typically universally recognized and is displayed in the person’s body language and facial expressions and can be a result of anger issues. The other primary emotions are: sadness, disgust, surprise, joy, and fear. Despite what many people say, or even teach to their children, anger is not

Your mental and emotional health determines how well you bounce back from disappointments, hurts, trauma, and betrayal. It directly impacts your well-being. Mental and emotional health in turmoil can make a person physically ill. For example, suppose you develop anxiety from too much stress over a long period. In that case, you might experience headaches, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, excessive sweating, insomnia, and irritability. To keep your well-being at optimal levels, consider setting goals for your mental

Feeling down after a breakup is a typical emotion. You invested time and energy into a relationship that did not work out. But some breakups hit harder than others. After a breakup, you may go through the stages of grief: shock (denial), anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Many of us get stuck in the depression stage of the process. This pervasive sadness steals our motivation and stops us from living life. However, depression after a breakup is not the

Depression is one of several mental health diagnoses that build momentum from the sadness, anger, and hopelessness that it deposits in those who experience it. Its symptoms influence our moods, behaviors, and bodies, leaving us as an exhausted, irritable shell of ourselves. It persuades us to trade our status as beloved sons and daughters for diminished esteem and enhanced distrust of God, ourselves, and others. As a result, we experience fragmented thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that isolate us from

Are you and your partner increasingly at odds with one another? Do you wonder if couples therapy might be able to help? According to the American Psychological Association, couples therapy is effective at restoring relationships approximately 75 percent of the time. But the key is not to wait too long. Love is a feeling, but a healthy relationship is a skill. – Linda Carroll, LMFT The longer you wait, the more deep-rooted bad habits become and the harder it

The idea of mental health can sometimes seem difficult to fully comprehend. It encompasses so many aspects of our lives and wellness we can struggle to see how they all work together. Even more significantly, we can struggle to grasp how they impact our emotional, social, mental, and physical wellness. There can often be two extremes when it comes to considering your mental health. The first is denial that anything could be amiss. When you are operating with this

According to the Mayo Clinic, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) describes a neurodevelopmental disorder which affects how a person perceives and responds to others in social situations. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction with others, which can cause issues in forming and maintaining relationships with others. ASD is often accompanied by repetitive and limited patterns of behavior, and people with ASD will also often have different ways of moving, paying attention and learning. The term

Getting older can be a very difficult process for your parents and comes with inevitable changes in their minds and their bodies. Forgetfulness, repeating the same questions, getting regularly lost while driving, keeping up with housework, and remembering to pay bills are common signs of aging. Aging can also make some people more withdrawn, suspicious, or paranoid. When these situations surface adult children are increasingly confronted with questions of whether it is safe for their parent to continue driving